chattelship

/ˈtʃætəlʃɪp/

Definitions

1. noun

The state of being a chattel or a person or thing regarded as a chattel, often used to describe the relationship between a slave and their owner.

“The abolition of chattelship was a major milestone in the fight for human rights.”

2. noun

A system or institution of slavery or the ownership of people as property.

“The historian studied the evolution of chattelship in 18th-century America.”

Synonyms

  • bondage
  • slavery

Antonyms

  • freedom
  • liberty